Greatest event I can remember in this country. Live Aid was on a similar level, but that was one day. Two weeks without doom, gloom, pessimism and cynicism - all replaced by thrills, spills, excitement, awe and pride.

All in all, it was worth waiting for. If FIFA were watching, do you think they might just realise that the UK really would be quite a good place to stage a football world cup. You know, with our love of football (obviously, not on a par with Qatar, lol), and our ability to stage such a huge event?

Sorry - I went back to cynicism there for a paragraph. TEAM GB!!! (and Northern Ireland!).

welch wrote:UK was great, and London is one of my three favorite cities. Saw John Lennon's face during the closing, just thought "wow, perfect...just Imagine".

Greatest city in the world in my book, but I am not a neutral

The Lennon moment was great. The idea of the closing ceremony was a celebration of the last 50 years of British music. The content would be subject to much debate and personal preference (One Direction???!!!!!), but I was curious as to who the closing act would be. Given the theme, it could only be the Stones or The Who. No arguments with The Who!

Presumably, NBC only broadcast a 45 minute highlights package???!! I understand that their coverage of the games was somewhat disappointing for fans of live sport?

welch wrote:UK was great, and London is one of my three favorite cities. Saw John Lennon's face during the closing, just thought "wow, perfect...just Imagine".

Greatest city in the world in my book, but I am not a neutral

The Lennon moment was great. The idea of the closing ceremony was a celebration of the last 50 years of British music. The content would be subject to much debate and personal preference (One Direction???!!!!!), but I was curious as to who the closing act would be. Given the theme, it could only be the Stones or The Who. No arguments with The Who!

Presumably, NBC only broadcast a 45 minute highlights package???!! I understand that their coverage of the games was somewhat disappointing for fans of live sport?

Closing ceremony had to be longer than 45 minutes. It seemed to take them or fifteen minutes to set up each act, as in having the Spice Girls drive around the stadium, then meet in the center, etc etc.

Yes, a lot of people were annoyed that NBC mainly covered the events that had Americans competing, and there were many gag-inducing interviews to show us "the person behind the athlete", but there were so many good things, too. A story about, and interview with, Roger Bannister. A story of "Britain stands against the Germans" in 1940/41 that was special to all of us who had fathers and uncles who fought WW2. We grew up watching that in documentaries like "Victory at Sea" or feature films.

I love London as much as I love New York, where I live, and "Warshnin", where I grew up. Always feel I'm almost home when I get to Gatwick or Heathrow, even though at least once during every trip I nearly get run over by a bus because I look left when crossing a street. (Yes, many intersections have "Look right" painted on the pavement...otherwise, thjere would be many more flattened tourists)